Endocrine disruptors are problems that are becoming more present in today’s world. There are not many true endocrine disruptors that are known, as there are only five. These five disruptors are also the ones that are the most researched as well as the most common in people lives today. Some of the endocrine disruptors have already been banned in the U.S. because of the effects that they have on the functions of the human body as well as the development of children. Yet in order to understand endocrine disruptors, you must have knowledge of the endocrine system and the process of the endocrine system within the body.
An understanding of what the endocrine system does and how it works is fundamental to understanding what endocrine disruptors are and what they can do to the body. The endocrine system is made up of six major glands: the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, and pineal body.[1]In addition to the six major glands, the reproductive organs are also counted as part of the endocrine system. Lastly the panacea is included in the endocrine system because it helps to manage another gland as well as the body’s insulin levels. The picture below shows where the glands are located as well as other body tissues that are affected by the hormones production of the endocrine system.
These glands that are in the endocrine system control the signals, production, storage, secretion, and regulations of the hormones that are distributed to the whole body when needed. The way a body and the endocrine system works together, is that when your body needs something such as a boost of insulin. The body produces chemical signals or messages, otherwise called “hormones”, when a task needs to be completed. Once the signal was sent out, the receptor of the glands waits to receive the signal. The signals and the receptors are similar to pieces of a puzzle that fit together with each gland. The gland with the signal was guided to the receptor; once they were together the message that the body needed was received and the hormones started to be produced. Once the right amount was produced, the hormones were then sent back to where the original signal was first sent from. Once the hormones return to their required destination the signal that was originally given is accomplished. The endocrine system of the body effects a lot of what the body produces.
Each of the six major glands deals with some different processes in the body as well as what each of the major glands actually effect in the body.
The hypothalamus, which is in the head region of the body, bridges the gap between the nervous system and the endocrine system. It is at the top of the brain stem and the hypothalamus is responsible for a lot of the metabolic processes and other neuroactivties that occur. Secretion of neurophone is produced in the hypothalamus, which helps to control body temperature, hunger, and thirst.[2]
The secretion of the neurophone by the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, slightly covered by a bone. It helps to bridge the hypothalamus and the bottom of the brain. The hormones that the pituitary gland secretes help to maintain the homeostasis of the body. The pituitary gland also can stimulate other endocrine glands. [3]
The thyroid glandis located in the front of the neck and controls how quickly or slowly the body burns energy. The thyroid gland can also determine the rate at which proteins are synthesized in the system, as well as controlling the sensitivity of the body when the hormones are released. [4]
The next main gland of the endocrine system is the parathyroid gland, it is a tiny gland that is located in your neck, and it only produces parathyroid hormones. There are four different parathyroid glands that are all located directly behind the thyroid gland. The parathyroid gland controls the amount of calcium that is let into the body’s blood stream through this gland. The main purpose of this gland is to regulate the calcium in the blood. [5]
The adrenal glands only purpose is to assist your body to deal with stresses. There are two, one located on each kidney. The adrenal gland also helps with the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamine, which are both steroids within the body. The corticosteroids deal with stress on the physiological system where as the catecholamine is released from the adrenal gland to response to the stress induced when prepping the body for physical activity.[6]
Last of the glands is the pineal gland, which is located in the vertebrate brain. This gland alone produces the melatonin for the body. Melatonin acts as signals and receptors to other glands as well as controlling the sleeping and wake cycle of the body. [7]
The additional organs that can go with the endocrine system are the male and female reproduction organs; they are the ovaries and testesthat produce the two major hormones within the body; estrogen and testosterone.[8] The pancreas is the other organ that can be associated with the endocrine system. The pancreasis where most of the body’s insulin is produced, as well as some of the sugar hormones that are out there.[9]
An understanding of the background of the endocrine system is useful when explaining what endocrine disruptors are and how they affect the growing world. Endocrine disruptors are a number of chemicals that are both naturally occurring and man-made ones. The major process of endocrine disruptors is that they interfere with the endocrine system and how it works. They interfere with the major processes and glands of the endocrine system. The disruptors obstruct the signaling, interpretation, secretion, and regulation of the hormones that are being produced as well as released into the body. An endocrine disruptor like Bisphenol A interferes with the insulin resistance of the pancreas resulting in possible diabetes. In this case the endocrine disruptors occurs within the body; they can affect not just the endocrine system but other systems as well. Usually the endocrine disruptors mimic or partly mimic the naturally occurring hormone in the body, which then causes the body to under or over produce that hormone of the gland. Another thing that endocrine disruptors do is that they bind to a receptor on one of the glands, blocking the hormone from binding on the receptor. This causes a signal fail and the body doesn’t respond properly to the hormones being produce or released, this can also occur when a signal is being blocked. Endocrine disruptors can also cause increased muscle growth hormones, and longer sleeping cycles within the body. The production of insulin and hormones within the body is stable without the effects of the disruptors. Overall, endocrine disruptors that are out there, interfere with many of the body’s biological processes without the person ever knowing it.
The endocrine disruptors do occur naturally sometimes, but not all the time within nature. Disruptors are a growing problem that is effect the growing population of the world. They are mainly coming from environmental factors that are foreign to the natural environment. DDT and PCB’s are two endocrine disruptors who’s use has been on the decline ever since they were banned in the U.S in 1997. DDT was a very common pesticide used in killing beetles and then is also used for Military use. DDT was a very common chemical that was used, and got into a lot of the water supplies, rivers, and wells. PCB’s were first introduced as coolant and lubrication for car and industries.[10] It was in 1977 when they finally banned PCB’s but that was after G.E. corp. dumped 500,000 pounds of PCB’s into the Hudson River. At the time of dumping they didn’t know anything, looking at the results of what they did to the eco-system in the river as well as all the people who live near it, the effects are noticable. Another source of endocrine disruptors is food, 90% of a person PCB’s and DDT’s are exposed to them through food pollutants. Bisphenol A is another endocrine disruptor that hasn’t been banned yet. Right now the there is questioning of it, it questions whether or not it is safe for people as Canada has gotten rid of all the Bisphenol A in most of it’s products. The U.S. is putting it up for review in front of congress. The compound of Bisphenol A is in a majority of plastics from water bottle to infant bottles. Bisphenol A really affects the infant because of the disruptor interference with the developmental hormones in the body. Phenalates are another endocrine disruptor that is fairly common is households. Phenalates are harmful in low exposure but in the high they can do a number on a person reproductive system.
Endocrine disruptors interfere with the human body as well as a lot of the wildlife of there that is affect by them through the environment. The endocrine disruptors are becoming more common is doctor office and major contributor to health issues from chemical like, DDT and PCB’s. These two have been banned but Bisphenol A and phthalates have not and they are both very common in everyday.
Endocrine disruptors are problems that are becoming more present in today’s world. There are not many true endocrine disruptors that are known, as there are only five. These five disruptors are also the ones that are the most researched as well as the most common in people lives today. Some of the endocrine disruptors have already been banned in the U.S. because of the effects that they have on the functions of the human body as well as the development of children. Yet in order to understand endocrine disruptors, you must have knowledge of the endocrine system and the process of the endocrine system within the body.
An understanding of what the endocrine system does and how it works is fundamental to understanding what endocrine disruptors are and what they can do to the body. The endocrine system is made up of six major glands: the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, and pineal body.[1] In addition to the six major glands, the reproductive organs are also counted as part of the endocrine system. Lastly the panacea is included in the endocrine system because it helps to manage another gland as well as the body’s insulin levels. The picture below shows where the glands are located as well as other body tissues that are affected by the hormones production of the endocrine system.
These glands that are in the endocrine system control the signals, production, storage, secretion, and regulations of the hormones that are distributed to the whole body when needed. The way a body and the endocrine system works together, is that when your body needs something such as a boost of insulin. The body produces chemical signals or messages, otherwise called “hormones”, when a task needs to be completed. Once the signal was sent out, the receptor of the glands waits to receive the signal. The signals and the receptors are similar to pieces of a puzzle that fit together with each gland. The gland with the signal was guided to the receptor; once they were together the message that the body needed was received and the hormones started to be produced. Once the right amount was produced, the hormones were then sent back to where the original signal was first sent from. Once the hormones return to their required destination the signal that was originally given is accomplished. The endocrine system of the body effects a lot of what the body produces.
Each of the six major glands deals with some different processes in the body as well as what each of the major glands actually effect in the body.
The hypothalamus, which is in the head region of the body, bridges the gap between the nervous system and the endocrine system. It is at the top of the brain stem and the hypothalamus is responsible for a lot of the metabolic processes and other neuroactivties that occur. Secretion of neurophone is produced in the hypothalamus, which helps to control body temperature, hunger, and thirst.[2]
The secretion of the neurophone by the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain, slightly covered by a bone. It helps to bridge the hypothalamus and the bottom of the brain. The hormones that the pituitary gland secretes help to maintain the homeostasis of the body. The pituitary gland also can stimulate other endocrine glands. [3]
The thyroid glandis located in the front of the neck and controls how quickly or slowly the body burns energy. The thyroid gland can also determine the rate at which proteins are synthesized in the system, as well as controlling the sensitivity of the body when the hormones are released. [4]
The next main gland of the endocrine system is the parathyroid gland, it is a tiny gland that is located in your neck, and it only produces parathyroid hormones. There are four different parathyroid glands that are all located directly behind the thyroid gland. The parathyroid gland controls the amount of calcium that is let into the body’s blood stream through this gland. The main purpose of this gland is to regulate the calcium in the blood. [5]
The adrenal glands only purpose is to assist your body to deal with stresses. There are two, one located on each kidney. The adrenal gland also helps with the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamine, which are both steroids within the body. The corticosteroids deal with stress on the physiological system where as the catecholamine is released from the adrenal gland to response to the stress induced when prepping the body for physical activity.[6]
Last of the glands is the pineal gland, which is located in the vertebrate brain. This gland alone produces the melatonin for the body. Melatonin acts as signals and receptors to other glands as well as controlling the sleeping and wake cycle of the body. [7]
The additional organs that can go with the endocrine system are the male and female reproduction organs; they are the ovaries and testesthat produce the two major hormones within the body; estrogen and testosterone.[8] The pancreas is the other organ that can be associated with the endocrine system. The pancreasis where most of the body’s insulin is produced, as well as some of the sugar hormones that are out there.[9]
An understanding of the background of the endocrine system is useful when explaining what endocrine disruptors are and how they affect the growing world. Endocrine disruptors are a number of chemicals that are both naturally occurring and man-made ones. The major process of endocrine disruptors is that they interfere with the endocrine system and how it works. They interfere with the major processes and glands of the endocrine system. The disruptors obstruct the signaling, interpretation, secretion, and regulation of the hormones that are being produced as well as released into the body. An endocrine disruptor like Bisphenol A interferes with the insulin resistance of the pancreas resulting in possible diabetes. In this case the endocrine disruptors occurs within the body; they can affect not just the endocrine system but other systems as well. Usually the endocrine disruptors mimic or partly mimic the naturally occurring hormone in the body, which then causes the body to under or over produce that hormone of the gland. Another thing that endocrine disruptors do is that they bind to a receptor on one of the glands, blocking the hormone from binding on the receptor. This causes a signal fail and the body doesn’t respond properly to the hormones being produce or released, this can also occur when a signal is being blocked. Endocrine disruptors can also cause increased muscle growth hormones, and longer sleeping cycles within the body. The production of insulin and hormones within the body is stable without the effects of the disruptors. Overall, endocrine disruptors that are out there, interfere with many of the body’s biological processes without the person ever knowing it.
The endocrine disruptors do occur naturally sometimes, but not all the time within nature. Disruptors are a growing problem that is effect the growing population of the world. They are mainly coming from environmental factors that are foreign to the natural environment. DDT and PCB’s are two endocrine disruptors who’s use has been on the decline ever since they were banned in the U.S in 1997. DDT was a very common pesticide used in killing beetles and then is also used for Military use. DDT was a very common chemical that was used, and got into a lot of the water supplies, rivers, and wells. PCB’s were first introduced as coolant and lubrication for car and industries.[10] It was in 1977 when they finally banned PCB’s but that was after G.E. corp. dumped 500,000 pounds of PCB’s into the Hudson River. At the time of dumping they didn’t know anything, looking at the results of what they did to the eco-system in the river as well as all the people who live near it, the effects are noticable. Another source of endocrine disruptors is food, 90% of a person PCB’s and DDT’s are exposed to them through food pollutants. Bisphenol A is another endocrine disruptor that hasn’t been banned yet. Right now the there is questioning of it, it questions whether or not it is safe for people as Canada has gotten rid of all the Bisphenol A in most of it’s products. The U.S. is putting it up for review in front of congress. The compound of Bisphenol A is in a majority of plastics from water bottle to infant bottles. Bisphenol A really affects the infant because of the disruptor interference with the developmental hormones in the body. Phenalates are another endocrine disruptor that is fairly common is households. Phenalates are harmful in low exposure but in the high they can do a number on a person reproductive system.
Endocrine disruptors interfere with the human body as well as a lot of the wildlife of there that is affect by them through the environment. The endocrine disruptors are becoming more common is doctor office and major contributor to health issues from chemical like, DDT and PCB’s. These two have been banned but Bisphenol A and phthalates have not and they are both very common in everyday.
1."Endocrine Glands," Wikipedia; __http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Endocrine_system&oldid=280572561__ (March 30, 2009) (Accessed: March 23 2009)
2. "Hypothalamus." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Mar 2009, 04:54 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hypothalamus&oldid=280153857>.
3."Pituitary gland." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Mar 2009, 22:04 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pituitary_gland&oldid=279677337>.
4."Thyroid." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Mar 2009, 02:02 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thyroid&oldid=279285156>.
5. "Parathyroid gland." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Mar 2009, 13:38 UTC. 27 Mar 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parathyroid_gland&oldid=279578939>.
6. "Adrenal gland." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 25 Mar 2009, 20:59 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adrenal_gland&oldid=279664930>.
7."Pineal gland." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 28 Mar 2009, 16:17 UTC. 31 Mar 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pineal_gland&oldid=280885645>.
8."Gonad." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2 Mar 2009, 00:06 UTC. 22 Mar 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gonad&oldid=274285134>.
9."Pancreas." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 1 Apr 2009, 17:08 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pancreas&oldid=281109208>.
10. "Endocrine disruptor." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 14 Mar 2009, 20:15 UTC. 1 Apr 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Endocrine_disruptor&oldid=277246582>.
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